Heat treatable coated article with zinc-doped zirconium based layer(s) in coating

Abstract

In certain example embodiments, a coated article includes a Zn-doped zirconium based layer before heat treatment (HT). The coated article is heat treated sufficiently to cause the Zn-doped zirconium based layer to transform into a Zn-doped zirconium oxide based layer that is scratch resistant and/or chemically durable. The doping of the layer with Zn has been found to improve scratch resistance and/or corrosion resistance.

1. A coated article comprising:
 a substrate; and 
 a layer comprising Zn-doped zirconium oxide (Zn:Zr x O y ), where y/x is from about 1.2 to 2.5 and there is more Zr than Zn in the layer comprising Zn-doped zirconium oxide, and metal content of the layer comprising Zn-doped zirconium oxide is from about 5-25% Zn. 
 
     
     
       2. The coated article of  claim 1 , wherein the coated article is heat treated. 
     
     
       3. The coated article of  claim 1 , wherein a dielectric layer is provided between the substrate and the layer comprising the Zn-doped zirconium oxide. 
     
     
       4. The coated article of  claim 1 , wherein the layer comprising Zn-doped zirconium oxide further comprises F and/or C. 
     
     
       5. The coated article of  claim 1 , wherein the coated article has a visible transmission of at least about 70%. 
     
     
       6. The coated article of  claim 1 , wherein the layer comprising zinc-doped zirconium oxide further comprises Sn. 
     
     
       7. The coated article of  claim 1 , wherein the layer comprising zinc-doped zirconium oxide further comprises Cu. 
     
     
       8. A window comprising the coated article of  claim 1 . 
     
     
       9. The coated article of  claim 1 , wherein the layer comprising Zn-doped zirconium oxide is the uppermost layer of a coating on the substrate. 
     
     
       10. The coated article of  claim 1 , wherein the substrate is a glass substrate. 
     
     
       11. The coated article of  claim 10 , wherein the layer comprising Zn-doped zirconium oxide directly contacts the glass substrate. 
     
     
       12. The coated article of  claim 1 , wherein a coating on the substrate consists essentially of the layer comprising Zn-doped zirconium oxide and a dielectric layer between the substrate and the layer comprising Zn-doped zirconium oxide. 
     
     
       13. The coated article of  claim 1 , wherein the substrate is a glass substrate, and wherein a coating on the substrate consists essentially of the layer comprising Zn-doped zirconium oxide.